Publisher's Weekly Review
Something gets hilariously lost in translation in Bailey's fairy tale retelling, in which a cat lady Cinderella makes a wish for a fairy godmother and instead gets a pink-tutued fairy dogmother ("WOOF!"). Though Cinderella, portrayed with pale skin, expects the dogmother to whisk her to the royal ball, the four-legged guide has other ideas. Who needs a ball gown when one can wear a cozy, refashioned dog blanket? And why take a carriage to the event instead of running under the light of the full moon, howling all the way? Continuing the tail-wagging twist, the brown-skinned royal family--dog-lovers all--immediately welcome this free-spirited Cinderella for a pooch-filled turn on the dance floor. Additional humor abounds in Hartas's depictions of Cinderella's multiple cats and the exuberant pack of palace pooches who bowl Cinderella over with kisses. Ages 3--7. (Feb.)
Kirkus Review
Who doesn't love a good "furry tail"? This book opens as expected: Cinderella sweeps the fireplace and bemoans her sad, lonely, boring existence. Then her wish for a fairy godmother is fulfilled in the form of a fairy dogmother, who's crestfallen when Cinderella explains whom she actually wanted. However, Cinderella, an empathetic dog lover, decides to give this a go. Alas, a misunderstanding occurs when Cinderella asks about preparing for the "ball." The Fairy Dogmother interprets the word differently at first, envisioning a frolicsome game of fetch. However, she's got magic up her sleeve and whips up a nifty outfit, footwear, and hairstyle for Cinderella, albeit with a canine aspect. Other "Cinderella" details get "doggified," and the ball ends up being a howl in more ways than one. Spoiler alert: There's a twist on the glass-slipper-leading-to-marriage ending. Not to worry. This one's much better--and involves squirrels. This rollicking story will arouse plenty of giggles as young readers enumerate the ways in which it veers from the original. Adults can encourage little ones to think of how "Cinderella" might work with other animals subbing in for the fairy godmother. The imaginative, colorful digital illustrations burst with energy and expressiveness. Cinderella is light-skinned. The royal family hosting the ball is brown-skinned, and background characters are racially diverse; the brown, floppy-eared, tutu-wearing dogmother is adorably memorable. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A barking good time will be had by all. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
While the rest of the household is at a ball, Cinderella--white and tatterdemalion--cleans, surrounded by a mix of mischievous cats. If only she had a fairy godmother, she muses, when poof!--or rather, woof!--her fairy dogmother appears in a pink tiara and tutu. At the mention of the ball (what dog doesn't love a ball?), the fairy dogmother goes into action. Soon Cinderella is magically made over in a cozy dog-blanket dress, poodle-puff hairstyle, and booties. Instead of taking a carriage, Cinderella arrives at the palace on foot and with a joyous howl, causing quite a stir among the refined guests. However, the brown-skinned, dog-loving prince is instantly enchanted by Cinderella. Although the jaunty text ruff-ly follows the traditional tale, in the end, Cinderella exhibits independence with a prince she likes but doesn't know well enough to marry. Cheery, cartoonish illustrations lend to the cleverness in this feminist, fractured fairy tale. Pair with Deborah Underwood's Interstellar Cinderella (2015), another spirited take on this classic story.
